Southern Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Alabama Supple-jack Berchemia scandens (J. Hill) K. Koch

Family: Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae)

Flowering: April-May

Field Marks: This vine differs from all others by its alternate, elliptic, toothless leaves that
have distinctly parallel venation, its tiny 5-parted greenish flowers, and its ellipsoid blue-black
drupes.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic, pointed or sometimes rounded at the tip, rounded or tapering
to the base, without teeth although sometimes wavy-edged, conspicuously pinnately veined,
smooth, green and shiny on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface, up to 3 inches long,
up to nearly 2 inches wide.